Counterdrug aviation unit helps local law enforcement keep drugs off the streets

Story by: By Air National Guard Tech Sgt. Catharine Schmidt - New York Counterdrug Task Force Public AffairsDated: Sun, Sep 1, 2013

RENSSELAER, N.Y. ‚Ä“ Counterdrug‚Äôs aviation unit flies the UH-72A Lakota on a search for marijuana plants. On board is also a law enforcement agent with Rensselaer County. If found, the marijuana is either marked for eradication at a later time or ground support is called in to destroy it. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Catharine Schmidt

SCOTIA, N.Y. -- Counterdrug Soldiers with Detachment 2, A-Company, 1-224th Aviation Security &Support Battalion based out of Latham are helping New York State fight the ongoing battle with illicit drugs, and with harvest season here, the search for marijuana plants is in full gear.

The unit flies the UH-72A Lakota, supporting Counterdrug‚Äôs mission and local law enforcement agencies in keeping drugs off the street in New York State.

‚ÄúThe aircraft seats about five people in the back,‚ÄĚ said a pilot with the unit. ‚ÄúIt also has a great open cockpit and cabin so aerial reconnaissance is very easy in this aircraft because of the good panoramic view that we have.‚ÄĚ

The helicopter is also equipped with forward-looking infrared (FLIR) cameras, giving pilots the ability to see clearly in both day and night, as well as a search light capable of lighting up a football field.

‚ÄúWe support local law enforcement, whether it be local county sheriffs, the Drug Enforcement Administration, state police ‚Ä¶ any type of law enforcement agency that gives a request through the Counterdrug office, we can support for a number of things.‚ÄĚ

While the unit has the ability to support local law enforcement agencies with just about any kind of aerial reconnaissance missions, their primary mission during harvest season is eradication.

‚ÄúThis is when you can really start to see the plants,‚ÄĚ said the pilot. ‚ÄúWe‚Äôll pick up a law enforcement agent (LEA) and bring them up in their respective jurisdiction areas. We go around to either points they are familiar with or points they have gotten tips from, and we basically just look on the ground for marijuana.‚ÄĚ

With the aircraft‚Äôs camera capabilities, they can zoom in on a plant to see exactly what it is, and the infrared capability also helps to spot marijuana plants.

‚ÄúIf we see it, we either mark it for eradication at a later time or we talk to (law enforcement agents) on the ground and lead them to where it is. (The LEAs) will then pull it and destroy it.‚ÄĚ

While the crews may not find what they‚Äôre looking for during some missions, other missions make up for that. One day a mission could produce nothing, and the very next day, the crew will find exactly what they‚Äôve been looking for and sometimes more.

‚ÄúA lot of people are moving their plants inside,‚ÄĚ said another pilot. ‚ÄúBut when we do find fields of marijuana, just like that, someone‚Äôs annual income is gone.‚ÄĚ
The support the aviation unit has given law enforcement hasn‚Äôt gone unnoticed.

‚ÄúThey really appreciate us coming out to aid in their role to keep their counties clean,‚ÄĚ said the pilot. ‚ÄúWe‚Äôre helping them keep drugs off the street and out of schools, and they love when we are able to come out. It‚Äôs a very good relationship.‚ÄĚ

Aviation is just one of Counterdrug‚Äôs many programs to keep drugs off the street.

According to the National Guard Bureau‚Äôs Counterdrug Web site, aircrews, using both fixed-wing and rotary-wing assets, have supported law enforcement Counterdrug operations nationwide with aerial observation, photo imagery, full motion video and interagency communications since 1991.

As of Aug. 23, New York Counterdrug Task Force as a whole has supported in the seizure of more than 8,300 pounds of drugs over the fiscal year. Drugs seized include cocaine, crack cocaine, heroin, marijuana and methamphetamine. Of that, 3,036 pounds of cultivated marijuana was destroyed with Counterdrug‚Äôs help, with a street value of more than $12.5 million.